Author's Note: I'm here because I was afraid Jonah-EN would come to my house and kill me if I didn't update. You can all thank him later, now you read the final two chapters of Trial of the Heroes Act I. Geek out.
Chapter 8:
Ready for Battle
Jak's Sand Shark sped over the dunes towards Spargus City, transporting our triumphant heroes along the road of this great adventure. Jak and Daxter yelled in greeting as they saw Crash and Spyro riding in the Javelin X with smiles proclaiming victory in Kras City. The heroes rode into the Spargus garage, dismounted their vehicles, and ran through the city streets towards the pillar in the middle of the central square. They forced their way through the crowd which had gathered around until they stood beside it with Sig and Kleiver by their side.
"This where that staff is?" he inquired. Jak nodded, too excited to speak as he looked at the container holding the key to victory in Haven City. He inserted the key into the hole and turned. A burst of colored light issued forth from the pillar, blinding and dazzling all who looked at it. Four beams of colored light (green, yellow, blue, and red) began to circle around and through Jak. When the blue streak entered Jak first, he felt a rush of excitement; he wanted to run and jump to release all this pent-up energy. As the red entered him, Jak felt strength and power flood through him; he could lift anything or beat any enemy with this power. Once the beam of yellow energy hit, there was a flow of sheer energy flowing through Jak; so powerful that he could feel it burning his hands to be released. And finally he was hit with the green, upon which a sudden calm and peace entered him; it healed his injuries from the recent trials he went through to obtain this great sensation. At once, the four beams merged into a white light shining straight through Jak's body. He rose and became the ghostly, winged entity known as Light Jak. All of the lights sank into Jak and as his feet hit the ground, Jak returned to his normal self, looking rejuvenated and hopeful.
"This is the power the Precursors talked of in that dream-thingy I had," he said in awe, examining one of his large hands.
"Jak, lookie there!" he shouted, pointing to where the pillar had been. Jak turned to look at whatever Crash was pointing at and punched the air triumphantly as he recognized the Eco Staff from his dream. He grasped the staff with one hand and plucked it from its perch where the pillar had once been. A beam of white light shot through the staff as Jak seized it, recognizing its new master.
"Guys," he began, turning to Crash and Spyro, "let's head back. I'm itching to kick that N. Tropy guy's butt."
Haven City: Freedom HQ
The electric blue Krimzon Guard transport vehicle flew over the security wall separating Haven City from the harsh desert and dangerous coast on its outskirts. It landed on the edge of the large bridge connecting the two halves of the Coastal District just outside the Industrial District. Jak, Crash, Spyro, and Daxter all exited the transport vehicle and made their way to Daxter's bar, the Naughty Ottsel which was still acting as the Freedom League's Coastal HQ. They walked in and saw Torn, the NKG General, standing before a holographic image of the city showing the controlled areas as different colors (NKG: blue; OKG: red).
"Good thing you're back Jak, an OKG strike force is trying to make its way to HQ. They've got Blast Bots so deal with those first then worry about the Lobsters." Daxter mock saluted Torn.
"Aye-aye Captain," he smirked. Torn growled then turned to Jak.
"You couldn't have locked him up somewhere?" he growled, annoyed.
"Come on, let's deal with these Blast Bots," he said, waving for Crash and Spyro to follow. Crash was about to follow Spyro out of the doorway when a small voice shouted: "Wait!" Crash turned to see the small female Ottsel he knew to be named Tess.
"Crash, Coco found your old Wumpa Bazooka and gave it to me so I could add a few things." She handed the modified weapon to Crash which the bandicoot took up to inspect. A dial had been added which was split into four color sections: orange-yellow, blue-green, red, and lime-green.
"Thanks Tess," he said, walking out after Jak and Spyro.
When Crash ran outside, he saw several blue-armored NKG members holding off their red counterparts in the OKG. He scanned the battlefield until he found Jak and Spyro attempting to take down a gigantic KG Death-Bot tottering towards HQ on four legs. Jak charged the Eco Staff with Red Eco and smacked it against the main body of the Blast Bot. It turned and attempted to shoot him with its machine gun, opening fire upon empty space as Jak rolled out of the way. Spyro flew above the Blast Bot, raining down a fire of Earth Shot breath onto it. The Bot's legs buckled and finally it exploded in a great fireball. Crash heard the sound of the hydraulic pistons which drove the Blast Bot behind him, turned, and was faced with yet another Blast Bot. He leapt out of the way of its machine gun fire and pointed his Wumpa Bazooka at it. The fruit hit the armored robot with a *splat*, doing absolutely no damage.
"Okay buddy, take this!" he shouted, turning the dial to the blue-green portion. The nozzle of the bazooka expanded to allow the new ammunition to be fired. Crash fired the bazooka and instead of the usual Wumpa fruit speeding out; a beaker of Dr. N. Brio's explosive formula fired out of the end, colliding with the Bot's armor with a bang. The beaker yielded just as much effect as the Wumpa fruit, time to up the ante. Crash turned the dial to the red, upon which the nozzle expanded again to become more box-shaped. When the trigger was pulled, an actual TNT Crate fired out the end and stuck to the Death-Bot. It counted down with the familiar beeping noise then exploded against the armored hull. The weapon had finally yielded some damage to the robot but not enough to finish it, maybe the last ammunition could. With a final turn to the lime-green and no change in the nozzle, Crash pulled the trigger and fired a Nitro Crate at the Blast Bot. With a sound like shattering glass, the crate exploded and tore at the exposed mechanics the TNT Crate had revealed. As with the other, the robot's knees buckled and it exploded in a great fireball which Crash only barely dodged. Crash looked over at Jak and Spyro to see each finishing off another Blast Bot, ending the attempted attack upon the Naughty Ottsel. The NKG members cheered along with the heroes at the victory. Jak beckoned Crash and Spyro to follow him into a zoomer he had "borrowed" from a civilian. They flew through the Industrial District, running past the beast's den while it was licking its wounds to put it figuratively. The zoomer ride carried them into the Bazaar District, through the canals and to a tall building in the center of the district, Freedom HQ. They rode up the elevator and found themselves in a room full of people. Ashelin turned to Jak, spotted the Eco Staff, and nodded.
"Great, with the Eco Staff, you can beat N. Tropy and the attacks on Haven will stop seeing as the group we have labeled as The Villains are focused elsewhere." Jak nodded in understanding.
"You point me to where he is, and I'll kick his butt," he smiled.
"We have pinpointed his location using the Eco disturbances to the top of the rebuilt palace," she said. Jak nodded again and turned to the exit.
"Jak!" she called after him. He turned to look at her. "Be careful." Jak smiled.
"Don't I always?" he laughed, turning back to the exit.